Rail-joint structure



' Feb. 26, 1924.

' 1,485,315 MCLEOD, THOMSON Y RAIL JOINT STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 12. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll ./7 i

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Feb-26,1924. I 1,485,315

M LEOD THQMSON RAIL JOINT STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 12. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lV/T/VESSES:-

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McLEOD THOMSON RAIL JOINT STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 12. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W/rNEssEs Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.McLEOD THOMSON, OF CHELSEA, NEW JERSEY, A SSIGNOR TO THE RAIL JOINT COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RAIL-JOINT STRUCTURE.

Application filed September 12, 1922. Serial No. 587,852

To all whom it my camera:

Be it known that I, MoLnon THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chelsea, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joint Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a railjoint struc ture combining in a novel way joint bars of the base supporting type with load distributing' and abrasion members or plates seating on the ties.

In track maintenance the conservation of ties is receiving more careful consideration, and track engineers are preferring the use of rail joint structures which will minimize or eliminate tie cutting without detracting from the stability and strength of the joint.

In order to meet that preference and requirement it is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved rail joint having the desirable feature of combining base supporting joint bars of the Well-known continuous type with abrasion plates in a. new way, whereby a rail joint structure (is obtained which has several important a vantages. Among these are relatively low cost of manufacture and maximum efficiency,

particularly with respect to its splicing and rail supportin function and to its capacity for properly distributing the load over an adequate area of the'surface of either a hard tie or a soft tie without resorting to the only alternative which is feasible according to present methods, that of incurring heavy expense for supplementar or entirely new sets of rolls, dies, shear'b ades, etc, forthe fabrication of the splice bar elements of 40 the structure.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rail joint structure embodying a pair of abrasion plates seating upon ties at opposite ends of the joint bars and serving to directl receive on their upper surfaces the cha ng orabrasive action' of the reduced, and therefore inadequate tie-bearin area of the under faces of the bars, leaving to the relatively large bottom surface of each abrasion plate the function of providing adequate means for distributing the load over the tie surface. This new relation of functions of the supporting members of a base supporting rail joint structure is, specially advantageous both from the standpoint of the manufacturer and that of the user because the structure may be much more accurately adapted to various conditions of tie-plate thickness and hardness of wooden ties without changing the section of the purely rail splicing portion of the structure.

Also, an important object of the invention is to combine the abrasion plates with the joint bars in such a manner as not only to prevent tie cuttting, but also as a reinforcing structure for the lower or base part of the jointbars, thereby permitting a material reduction in the amount of metal used in the said lower or base part of the joint bars." Thatis, conversely to say, one of the valuable features of the present invention is a material reduction in the amount of metal in the lower or base part of the joint bars which is made possible because of the use of the abrasion plates. In connection with that phase of the invention it will be understood that the elimination of a substantial amount of the much more expensive metal from the lower or base part of the splice bars makes it possible to combine with the same a pair of abrasion plates of a relatively lower priced material, with all the attendant mechanical advantages of using such plates and without increasin the cost of a pair of bars and a pair of a rasion plates as compared with -a pair of base supporting joint bars of the commonly prevailing type. In addition to this economicand structural advantage, in-

cidcnt to the reduced amount of metal in the lower portion of each splice bar, another very important objectis thereby attained, viz :-the horizontal neutral axis is raised,

and thereby brought. closer to the centre line of the Its, in exact proportion to the extent of this reduction in the amount of metal. In other words, what is commonly termed the eccentricity of the splice bars is lessened in exact proportion to the extent of this reduction in ratio.

Furthermore, a further ob'ect of the invention in the use of the a rasion plates at the opposite ends of the joint is to permit the use of a shorter, and therefore more economical, bar than would be required by present practice to meet any given conditions of rail S8CilOIl,tlQ support and roadbed.

A still further object of the :invention is to provide a base supporting rail-joint structure wherein the base supporting elements thereof may be given a combined thickness to equal that of any intermediate tie plates in use, as for instance on bridges, where the wooden rail supports cannot be varied in their proximity to the rail base as can be done in ballasted roadbed;

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

The improvements are necessarily susceptible of embodiment in modified forms of structures without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but for illustrative purposes certain preferred and practical embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of a rail joint structure embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a composite view illustrating by full and dotted lines the possibilities ofiered by the present invention in permitting substantial reductions in the amount of metal in the base part of the joint bars when having the reinforcement and support of load-distributing abrasion plates which overlie the ties,

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating a modification of the invention having a medial rail-engaging projection, the use of which will permit offurther reduction in the amount of metal in the base portions of the joint bars,

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the rail joint construhted in accordance with the present invention and including joint bars which, for given conditions. may be made shorter than would be feasible with the use of bars made in accordance with present practice,

Figure 5 is a composite view illustrating graphically, by full and dotted lines, that phase of the invention wherein the eccentricity of the splice bar is lessened in exact proportion to the extent of the reduction in the ratio of metal inthe lower part of the bar.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying forward the invention it is proposed to utilize and preserve the desirable rail-splicing features of joint bars of the base supporting type, but, in addition, to effect a practical combination with a pair of abrasion plates located at the ends ot' the joint bars and seated upon adjacent ties.

The shape or section of the joint bars and of the abrasion plates may be varied to suit any particular requirement, but, for the purposes of illustrating the invention, the drawings show the improved rail joint structure as including a pair of base supporting joint bars of the well known continuous type, designated as J, and a pair of spaced abrasion plates E extending transversely across the entire joint at the bottom thereof. Each of the joint bars J includes a head member A, a foot member B, a base member C underlying the rail, and the toe member or spiking flange D, and each of said bars has bearing surfaces 1, 2 and 3, respectively, engaging the under side of the rail head, the upper side of the base flange of the rail and the underside of the base flange of the rail, constituting the three-point bearing which is common to the continuous type of bar.

It will be noted by reference to the full and dotted line comparisons shown in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings that the improved continuous type joint bar employed in the present invention involves a new distribution of metal therein. As shown, the said bar is formed with a widened rail engaging top chord intersected by the vertical plane of the outer side of the rail head, a web of less thickness than the top chord, an outwardly extended foot portion join ing the web and of less thickness than the web, and a base member joining the foot flange and of less thickness than the bar web. Also the metal is so distributed in the joint bar that it is quite pronouncedly truncated at the outer portion of its base bar, manifested particularly in the shortened toe I). This special distribution of metal in the joint bar has the cfl'ect both of raising the horizontal neutral axis of the bar and shifting inwardly the vertical neutral axis of the bar so that eccentricity in the bar is substantially eliminated.

Each of the abrasion plates E is provided at its upper side with a flat bar seating surface F, and at its underside with an initial fiat tie bearing surface G, while towards its opposite edge portions each abrasion plate is preferably provided respectively with the inclined or beveled tie clearing surfaces H and H which constitute the secondary bearing surfaces and which serve to prevent the edge portions of the abrasion plate from cutting into the surface of the tie. Also it will be observed particularly from Figure 4c of the drawings that each of the abrasion plates in length is preferably at least co-extensive with the width of the top surfaces of the ties so as to practically eliminate tie-cutting along its sides and also to provide a full tie-bearing engagement and thus serve to more evenly and fully distribute the load over the top surfaces of the ties. It will be seen that this construction of under surface for the abrasion plate provides the plate with an initial bearing surface G whose center is ofi'set toward the shoulder of the plate, that is, the center of the initial bearing of the abrasion plate is located in a plane between the vertical longitudinal center of the rail and theouter edge thereof so that the plate will be loaded at a point between the longitudinal center of the rail and the outer edge of the plate. By this means the requisite stiffness and strength is maintained in the thinned base part of the joint bars and in the relatively thin abrasion plate which enables the joint effectively to function without bending or breakage of parts. Also this provision for eccentrically loading the base plate reduces the fulcrum action at the outer edge of the plate.

At the outer side of the joint the abrasion plates E are provided with the upstanding abutment shoulders S against which the outer joint bar engages.

As will be seen from Figure 2 0f the drawings, the use of the abrasion plate provides additional'metal in the line of the resultant of the forces passing throu h the joint bars, hence supporting and rein orcing the lower part thereof in a way that permits of a substantially reduced amount of metal in the lower part of each joint bar. That is, the lower art of the joint bar, which includes the oot flange B, the base member C and the toe D, may have a substantial amount of metal eliminated therefrom, without weakening or unbalancing the structure, while at the same time obtainin the desirable advantages of raising the horizontal neutral axis of the rail splicing members and also reducing the amount of the higher priced metal in the base of the joint bar, and mechanically improving the lower part of the joint bar as to'resiliency and lit.

lVith reference to the feature of raising the horizontal neutral axis in exact proportion to the extent of reduction in ratio of metal in the lower portion of each splice bar, Figure 5 of the drawings graphically illustrates that phase of the invention. The bar shown in full lines in that figure of the drawings is a continuous type of base supporting bar having said feature of the re uced ratio of metal in the lower section thereof, and the full horizontal line marked HNA shows the horizontal neutral axis of the bar brought closer to the center line of the clamping bolts (marked CL) in exact proportion to the extent of the said reduction in the ratio of metal in the lower section of the bar. The bar shown in said figure by the uniform dotted lines X has an increased amount of metal in the lower portion thereof with the same upper portion as the full line bar; the result of such distribution of metal being to lower the horizontal neutral axis to the point 92. The bar indicated on said figure of the drawings by the dot and dash line Y'involves an'increased amount of metal in the lower portion thereof and also a change of section in its upper portion; such distribution of metal resulting in a further lowering of the horizontal neuizral axis as indicated by the dot and dash me y.

In Figure 1 of the drawings the center line of the clamping the designation CL, and the horizontal neutral axis by the designation HNA.

To show how extensive this elimination of metal maybe carried out in the lower part of each joint bar, the dotted linesdesignated by B, C and D in Figure 2 of the drawings show the outline and fullness of the lower part of a standard continuous type joint bar now in general use, without a tie-bearing or an abrasion plate; the full lines B, C and D showing the substantial reduction in fullness of the foot, base and toe members of the bar, as well as the material curtailment or shortening ofth'e toe D. It is these reductions in the amount of metal in the lower part of the joint bars that effects such a saving in the high priced metal of the joint bars as to, permit the use of a pair of abrasion plates oflower priced material without increasing the cost over the ordinary or conventional continuous type joint and at the same time improving the structure as a rail joint.

In addition, the consolidation of features referred to prevents the cutting, and provides for evenly distributing the load, over the entire width of the top surfaces of the ties, thus permitting material shortening of the joint, as ma be seen from Figure at of the drawings where the ends of the joints are shown terminating over the ties at a point intermediate the sides of the abrasion plates.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the manufacturing and stmctura-l improvements herein referred to will be appreciated without further description and it will also be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim z.-

1. A rail joint structure including opposite 'oint bars having rail engaging base memers, and an abrasion plate underlying the base members of both bars and having an initial tie-bearing surface whose center is offset toward the outer edge of the joint.

2. A rail joint structure including opposite joint bars having thinned rail engaging base members, and an abrasion plate underlying the base members of both bars and havbolts is designated by ing an initial tie bearing surface whose center is offset toward the outer edge of the joint.

3. A rail joint structure including opposite joint bars having rail engaging base members, and an abrasion plate underlying the base members of both bars and having inclined secondary tie-bearing surfaces toward its edges and an intermediate initial tie-bearing surface.

4. A rail joint structure including opposite joint bars having rail engaging base members and an abrasion plate underlying the base members of both bars and having inclined secondary tie-bearing surfaces toward its edges and an intermediate initial tie-bearing surface whose center is ofiset from the center of the rail toward the outer edge of the joint.

5. A rail joint structure including opposite joint bars having rail engaging base members and an abrasion plate underlying the base members of both bars and having secondary inclined tie-bearing surfaces at its edge portions respectively of ,different widths and an intermediate initial tie-bearing surface whose center lies between the center of the rail and the secondary tie-bearing surface of the least width.

6. A rail joint structure including opposite base supporting joint bars each having a truncated base part reduced in thickness of metal, and an eccentrically loaded abrasion plate.

7. A rail joint structure including opposite joint bars each having a base part reduced in thickness of metal thereby raising the horizontal neutral axis of the bar and also truncated at its outer portion thereby shifting inwardly the vertical neutral axis of the bar, and an abrasion plate engaging the base part of both bars.

8. A rail joint structure including opposite' joint bars arch having a base partreduced inthickness of metal thereby raising the horizontal neutral axis of the bar and also truncated at its outer portion thereby shifting inwardly the vertical neutral axis of the bar, and an eccentrically loaded abrasion plate engaging the base part of both bars.

9. A rail joint structure including opposite joint bars each having an enlarged head and a base part reduced in thickness of metal thereby raising the horizontal neutral axis of the bar, said bar also being truncated at its outer portion thereby shifting inwardly the vertical neutral axis of the bar, and an abrasion plate underlying the base parts of both bars.

10. A rail joint structure including opposite joint biirs each having an enlarged hea and a base part reduced in thickness of metal thereby raising the horizontal neutral axis of the bar, said bar also being truncated at its outer portion thereby shifting inwardly the vertical neutral axis of the bar, and an eccentrically loaded abrasion plate underlying the base parts of both bars.-

11. A rail joint including opposite joint bars each of which has a widened rail engaging top chord, a web of less thickness than the top chord, an outwardly extended foot portion joining the web and of less thickness than the web, and a base member joining the foot flange and of less thickness than-the her web, and an abrasion plate ungerlying the relatively thin bases of both ars.

1:2. A rail joint including opposite joint bars each of which has a widened rail engaging top chord intersected by the vertical plane,of the outer side of the rail head, a web of less thicknessthan the top chord, an outwardly extended foot portion joining the web and of less thickness than the web, and a base member joining the foot flange and of less thickness than the bar web, and an abrasion plate underlying the relatively thin bases of both bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- MoLEOD THOMSON.

Witnesses:

. HARRIET BLIEDEN,

FLORENCE GALLAHAN. 

